Eloisa

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrell Royal

I'd decided a month or so ago which Motorbike I wanted to use for the 'Big Trip', decided, then subsequently had many moments of self doubt in my selection afterwards. Should I choose a newer design of bike, or one more suited to Tarmac touring, or maybe even the reverse, a bike designed for more off road use. The decisions and all the possible variables, pros and cons where playing on my mind for what seemed like an eternity. Sleepless nights, eveings spent on costing exercises for both the massive expense on preparing the chosen bike for the trip and the running costs when it was underway. Considerable time was also spent reading reviews , books and various web resources trying to assimilate as much knowledge as possible to confirm my previous conclusions. I wanted the cheapest, most reliable bike capable of making the trip without disintegrating.

The Africa Twin had always been my first choice, the whole concept of it's simplistic 'Tractor' like mechanics; as opposed to modern computer controlled 'Fly-By-Wire' machines and it's heavy duty go anywhere rugged ability really appeals to me. The AT (Africa Twin) is the 'Landrover' of the motorbike world, not the easiest to ride, not the most comfortable, not the lightest, not the quickest, but the one most likely to cross the finish line intact after any very long distance endurance trip, with the least attention spent keeping her going. But while scouring the used bikes available (Honda stopped production of the Africa in 2003), visiting a few dealers and seeing a few bikes they all left me un-inspired, something was missing, something saying "Buy Me"! This only added to my self doubt about the selection and in desperation at one point I even visited a BMW showroom to view their offerings!

Then last week I found her. She'd been put onto Ebay earlier that morning, a 2001 model, low mileage; semi-spec'd up for Enduro Adventure Touring, but most importantly, after looking at the pictures repeatedly, she gave me the impression that she might be 'The One'.

I made some calls to the seller asking for further information and more pictures and we agreed a rough price to take her off Ebay if I wanted to travel the 200 miles up to view her and make the purchase there and then. Things were looking good, to good; this couldn't really be happening to me, I'm not usually this lucky.

Tucked away in the corner of a Honda showroom early the following Saturday morning, after a sleepless nite and a very early start I first got to see her, she looked totally awesome. The dealer wheeled her out for my appraisal, but I knew before even sitting on her that I was going to buy her. I had that reaction you get when something just feels right, and when I got to play with her on the forecourt that reaction just strengthened, everything about her just felt right. Her previous owner had dubbed her 'Bertha', which I conclude was derived from the impossing extra large after market 43Ltr fuel tank that had been fitted to her, 'Big Bertha', but this really wasn't a suitable name for such a beautiful bike, she really is the 'Eloisa'.

The ride home was just as inspiring, heavy rain, high winds and the M25 to contend with, none of which made any difference. It seemed like Eloisa and I just fit, I just love riding her, it feels like were growing into one another. My confidence is growing on her and as it does I'm enjoying riding her even more.

It's always the way though isn't it, maybe a lesson I should of learned years ago, the lesson not to question your 'Gut Reaction'. My gut reaction was always to buy an Africa Twin for the trip (Obviously rightly or wrongly I can't conclude until the tours over), but what the hell was I worrying about all that time? It didn't matter; the only thing that mattered was that she was in the right colour, black!

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